Electric temperature-indicator.



(No Model.)

Patented Aug. 7 I900. L. S. WILDER.

ELECTRIC TEMPERATURE INDICATOR.

(Application filed. Nov. 18, 1899.)

wilmaoaaa LESLIE S. \VILDER, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC TEMPERATURE-INDICATOR.

SJPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,317, dated August7, 1900; Application filed November 18,1899. SerialNo. 737,435. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEsLIE S. WILDER, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Springfield, in the county of Hampden andState of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Electric Temperattire-Indicators, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in electrictemperature-indicators of the class in which a thermostat is comprised.

The object of the invention is to produce a very simple and inexpensiveconstruction of thermostatic and electric devices for indicating andgiving notice of certain degrees of temperature changes which isespecially applicable for employment in incubators or hatcheries, ingreen-houses, and other places.

The invention consists in constructions and combinations of parts anddevices, all substantially as hereinafter described, and set forth inthe claims. I

The improved device is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 is substantially a central vertical longitudinal sectionthrough the thermostatic device and diagrammatic representation of thecircuit connections in which are the battery or generator and asignaling-bell. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the mechanical devicescontrolled by the thermostat. Fig. 3 is an end view as seen at the leftof Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a representation of parts in detail on asomewhat-enlarged scale, partly in section, as taken on the line L 4,Fig. 2.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all ofthe views.

In the drawings, A represents asupport for the thermostat B and for thecircuit-closing devices controlled and operated thereby. The saidsupport is constructed in the form of a rectangular casing made of sheetmetal and having the cross strap or bar a of thin metal, the extremitiesthereof being bent at right angles to the spanning portion and rivetedto the opposite side walls of the casing, as indicated at 10. On this.supporting bar or strap, which has its position above the open bottom ofthe casing, is placed the thermostatic disk or wafer 13, which embodiesno novelty in itself, the same comprising two diaphragms' or circularsheets of very thin metal, (indicated by 12 and 13,) with the space 14between them, in which an expansive gas or fluid is contained, thejoining circular edges of the two parts being soldered or otherwisehermetically closed.

Upstanding above the top of the support A is the post havingtheseparated ear-pieces b 1), within which by the pivot d is hung thehorizontally-extending lever O, the extremity of which projects withinthe aperture f, formed in ,the contact-plate g, and having contacts 15and 16, constituted by the upper and lower margins of the aperture.

There is in metallic connection with the contact the binding-postsecured to and extending above the end of the support A.

The enlarged shank portion 17 of the lever C has the verticalscrew-threaded hole 18 through it, threading part way through which isthe thumb-screw h, and the lower end of this thumb screw constitutes anadjustable abutment or bearing for the vertically-applied thrust-rod i,the upper end of which is extended upwardly within the hole or socket18, while the lower end thereof rests against the top of the thermostatB.

j represents a spring exerting a downward force upon the lever.

m represents a second binding-post supported on the casing, the onebinding-post being insulated from the other, andin the drawings, 77. maybe understood as a block or plate of insulating material.

0 represents the circuit conductor or wire,

connected in which is the battery t and the electrically-operatedalarm-bell u of a most common and well-known kind, understood as beingoperative to produce a continued ringing of the bell so long as there isan electric current running therethrough.

The device is to be adjusted so that the extremity of the lever will be,under normal temperatures, removed from contact on both of the contactportions 15 and 16 of the plate g.

Manifestly when the temperature rises in the incubator or other placewhere the thermostatic device is located the expansion of the thermostatwill through the rod 2' elevate the lever and carry the end thereof intocontact with the plate at 15, thereby closing the circuit and ringingthe hell, it being understood that the bell may be located in the houseor in any place where it may be readily heard. On the other hand,-alowering of the temperature down to any degree which is lower than thatwhich is desired to be maintained in the incubator, 850., will causesuch a contraction of the thermostat as to permit the lever to fall andestablish the alarm-circuit, because of the contact of the lever at thepoint 16 on the contact-plate 9.

By turning the adj usting-screw 7L either upwardly or downwardly thenormal position of the lever relatively to the contact-points 15 or 16may be such that wider ranges of change in temperature or less wideranges thereof will result in effecting the closing of the circuit. Thusif it is desired that the alarm shall be given when the temperaturewhere the thermostat is located rises a comparatively-few degrees abovethe normal the screw it will be turned downwardly, whereby the lever Ghas its extension in a line which is comparatively near the contact 15.On the other hand, by turning the screw in the other direction a muchgreater range of rising temperature is provided for before the alarmwill be soundcd;bnt in this case acom paratively-slight loweringtemperature will cause the sounding of the alarm for the reason that thelever will come to bearing upon the contact 16 under a very slightcontraction of the thermostatic disk .13.

As a convenient and desirable construction I provide on the supportingbar or crossstrap a a flanged holder-ring (t having the upturned flaringmarginal portion into which the thermostatic disk or water may bereadily inserted and retained against accidental dis placement.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. In an electric temperature-indicator, the combination with the hollowbase provided with the cross-support, the thermostat-disk thereon, theplate secured on the top of the base comprising a binding-post andupstanding earpieces, an upright plate supported on the base suitablydistant from the said binding-post plate, and having a recess, aleverrod pivoted in said earpieces and projected through said recess, athrust-rod between and in bearing on the thermostat-diskand the lever,the eircuit-conductors, a generator and an alarm device, substantiallyas described.

2. In an electric toinperature-indicator, the combination with thethermostat, the contactplate having the recess, the pivoted leverextending through the recess the rod controlled by the thermostat andengaging the lever, and means for adjusting the normal position of thelever and the margins of said recess, relatively the one to the other,whereby said lever may have greater or less proximity thereto asrequired, the conductors in electrical connection with the lever andsaid rccessed plate and a battery and an alarm or signaling device inthe circuit, substantially as described.

Signed by me at Springfield, Massachusetts, in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

LESLIE S. YVILDER.

\Vitnesses:

II. S. WILDER, WM. S. BnLLows.

